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Wisconsin running back Montee Ball scored the 79th touchdown of his career during the first quarter of the Badgers' game against Penn State, setting a new FBS record.

He broke the previous record held by former Miami (Ohio) running back Travis Prentice, who scored 78 touchdowns from 1996 to 1999.

Ball began this season with 61 career touchdowns, good for 10th on the FBS' all-time list. On the road to top spot, Ball passed former All-American running backs like Marshall Faulk, Ron Dayne, Cedric Benson and Ricky Williams.

Ball's 17-yard run gave Wisconsin a 14-7 lead against the Nittany Lions with seven minutes left in the first quarter.

Ball nearly set the record late in the fourth quarter of last Saturday's game against Ohio State, but he fumbled the ball as he attempted to leap over a pile near the goal line. The Badgers would go on to lose 21-14 in overtime.

Last fall, Ball tied Barry Sanders' record for touchdowns in a single season (39). While he's failed to match the totals from his junior season, Ball remains one of the finalists for the Doak Walker Award – along with UCLA's Johnathan Franklin and Oregon's Kenjon Barner – and a heavy contender for All-American honors.

Ball finished with 111 yards on 27 carries as the Badgers fell in overtime 24-21.

"It's not the way you want it to happen," Ball said about the record.

"I guess, for your own personal goals, I look on the bright side, I'm glad I have them. I'm blessed. It could obviously be a lot better."

The Badgers already had clinched the Big Ten Leaders Division and will play Nebraska next Saturday for a spot in the Rose Bowl.